DraftKings Fantasy Soccer: Tuesday-Wednesday UCL Picks

MATCHES (ET)

• Tuesday, 3:00 pm: Barcelona vs. Manchester United
• Tuesday, 3:00 pm: Juventus vs. Ajax
• Wednesday, 3:00 pm: FC Porto vs. Liverpool
• Wednesday, 3:00 pm: Manchester City vs. Tottenham Hotspur

For detailed stats and odds, check out the DraftKings Fantasy Soccer: Tuesday-Wednesday UCL Cheat Sheet.

FORWARDS

Lionel Messi, BAR v. MU ($9,500): Messi was a huge disappointment in the first leg, but he's still Messi and Barcelona are heavily favored at home against Man United, who come in trailing 1-0 on aggregate. Theoretically, that means United will be attacking more, especially since they need to score at least two because of Barcelona's away goal, but Messi could put the nail in the coffin quickly with one or two goals. The biggest issue for GPPs is that Messi figures to be highly owned, and while fading him theoretically made sense last week, he was still in every GPP-winning lineup.

Cristiano Ronaldo, JUV v. AJA ($9,200): The pricing for this week's slate is softer than last week, making it much easier to fit both Messi and Ronaldo into cash and GPP lineups. Ronaldo's floor was surprisingly low in the first leg, but as he's been known to do, he found the back of the net in the 1-1 draw while Messi was kept off the scoresheet completely. Nevertheless, the two greatest Champions League players of their generation make plenty of sense as a pairing this week, with the biggest negative being that it will keep you from rostering multiple Manchester City pieces. It seems odd to consider a Man City stack since they're playing Tottenham, but a look at the betting odds shows they are big favorites with the highest implied goal total on the slate. It's not crazy to consider taking a combination of Sergio Aguero ($8,100), Raheem Sterling ($8,500), Leroy Sane ($7,800) or Riyad Mahrez ($7,300), but doing so likely takes you away from one of Messi or Ronaldo, and you'll likely have to budget for the higher end because they play Wednesday.

Federico Bernardeschi, JUV v. AJA ($5,900): Similar to last week, Bernardeschi is a cheap path to Juventus' set pieces, and given the matchup, it's hardly detrimental playing him and Ronaldo together. He's likely to be the most popular pay-down forward in cash games, even if Porto's Jesus Corona ($6,500) has taken on some set pieces recently and is lining up for a side that has to score two goals just to draw level with Liverpool. Speaking of Corona, the Porto forwards are likely to be lightly owned, but they need to score more than any other side on the slate. I don't see how you justify them in cash games, other than maybe Corona, but in GPPs they make sense. I also wouldn't shy away from the Ajax guys, as we've seen plenty of times that they like to attack as much as possible, and while paying up for Dusan Tadic ($8,200) feels a bit nuts, it pretty much always feels that way and he has six goals in his last six Champions League games. I also wouldn't sleep on Tottenham; they are huge underdogs away to Man City, but they aren't pushovers and Son Heung-Min ($6,900) could certainly hit them on the counter, with Lucas Moura ($5,900, midfielder) and Fernando Llorente ($6,400) also theoretical options. And if you really want to go against the grain, Manchester United's Anthony Martial is dirt cheap at $5,500, which may actually make him more owned than Marcus Rashford ($7,500) or Romelu Lukaku ($6,800) if they all start.

MIDFIELDERS

Hakim Ziyech, AJA at JUV ($8,700): This is arguably Ziyech's most difficult match of the season, but after churning out yet another double-digit fantasy-point game in the first leg, it's really tough to argue that another midfielder has a higher floor. His salary is workable with both Messi and Ronaldo, but it's really tough to get him with those guys and a Manchester City attacker (or one of them and two City guys). The clearest pivot from Ziyech is Kevin De Bruyne ($7,500) who surely has to start after being on the bench for the first leg; then again, there was little reason to think he wouldn't have started that match in London, so who knows with Pep Guardiola. Making matters worse, Man City play Wednesday, so it's tough to rely on any kind of expected lineup unless you have the salary space left over. Another possible move away from Ziyech could be to Barcelona's Philippe Coutinho ($7,800) since they are such big favorites, and you'll at least know if he's starting. If he's not, Ousmane Dembele ($7,000, midfielder/forward) could get some attention too because of his role on set pieces for the second-biggest favorite on the slate.

Victor Wanyama, TOT at MCI ($3,300): Wanyama represents a group of defensive midfielders who will all be in consideration because they allow you to spend up in other places. Wanyama's playing time has been really sporadic this season, but he could keep his spot in the starting XI after scoring a goal last weekend while starting in place of the injured Harry Winks. Wanyama's floor is low, but so is his price, which is really the biggest selling point. Rodrigo Bentancur ($3,500) could get some looks after scoring 8.75 fantasy points last week at $3,300, while Man United's Fred ($4,000) or Scott McTominay ($3,600) might be more attractive than Juve's Blaise Matuidi ($4,200) or Liverpool's Fabinho ($4,400). Frenkie de Jong ($4,300) of Ajax comes in after pulling up with a hamstring injury this past weekend, but he's apparently fine and likely well overlooked by those looking to pay down.

DEFENDERS

Alex Telles, POR v. LIV ($4,600): Telles doesn't have a set-piece monopoly anymore, but that shouldn't take too much away from his potential floor Wednesday as Porto try to come back from a two-goal deficit. There are a few defenders who are worth paying up for in a vacuum, but doing so with two of them makes it tough to spend up at the attacking positions. Manchester United's Ashley Young ($4,800) should also get the attention of people who like set-piece taking defenders, but he comes in as a sizable underdog.

Joel Veltman, AJA at JUV ($3,900): Veltman started last week in place of the suspended Noussair Mazraoui ($4,500, midfielder), and he could get another start this week in place of the suspended Nicolas Tagliafico. He's not a high-volume crosser, but Veltman is still a decent attacker from his full-back position, as we saw in the first leg when he put two of three shots on goal and drew three fouls, helping him to 10.75 fantasy points. That level of production is unlikely in Turin, but his low salary would make even half that total serviceable. 

Diogo Dalot, MU at BAR ($3,800): Dalot's versatility has been on full display, as he's gotten starts at right-back, left wing-back, right wing-back and right attacking midfielder over the past two months, and he looks likely to keep his spot in the starting XI because Luke Shaw is suspended for yellow card accumulation. He has been crossing more of late, sending in 13 in his last three games, though that included a donut against Barca in the first leg. He's likely to be defending more against Barcelona than he did against Wolves (six crosses) and West Ham (seven crosses), but his low price is helpful, especially for those who want to combine him with Veltman.

GOALKEEPER

Hugo Lloris, TOT at MCI ($3,600): I find it tough to justify paying up for Ederson ($5,900) or Marc-Andre ter Stegen ($5,700) given that their salaries could be best used for players at other positions, and while paying down for Lloris seems a bit crazy, it's goalkeeper, so any choice has a level of crazy. David de Gea ($3,800) could have decent save upside, but Barcelona don't even need to score, while Lloris should see plenty of shots come his way because Man City do. Theoretically Iker Casillas ($4,400) could have a decent day because Porto could win 1-0 and be eliminated, but depending on a win and clean sheet from someone playing Liverpool doesn't seem wise.